Genghis Khan's Surprising Legacy

Genghis Khan was the greatest conqueror in human history. He was a ruthless warrior known for his scorched earth tactics. So it may surprise you to learn that he was a deeply principled and passionate man, and a champion of religious freedom.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Genghis Khan? Conquest, right? The terrifying Mongol hordes. But Genghis Khan’s legacy wasn’t built entirely on the battlefield. Motivated by fear and love, he was remarkably fair to the people he subjugated, going so far as to grant them religious freedom. Anthropologist Jack Weatherford has chronicled Genghis’s life and ideas, and he joins us to discuss their place in American political life and what they can teach us today.